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(No Model.)

D. A. ALDEN. FILE HOLDER 0R DRAWER.

Patented June 6, 1893.

0mm warns 00.. VNOTO-UTNQ, WASHINGTON, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID A. ALDEN, OF NEWV HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES S. MERSICK, OF SAME PLACE.

FILE HOLDER OR DRAWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,001, dated June 6, 1 893.

Application filed February 24, 1893. Serial No. 463,533. (No model J To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID A. ALDEN, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in File Holders or Drawers; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

Figure 1, a plan View of a drawer containing a file-holder constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a detached perspective view of the file-holder; Fig. 3, a broken plan view showing one end of the said follower with a catch in its normal position.

My invention relates to an improvement in file-holders for use in drawers, the object be ing to produce a simple, convenient, effective and inexpensive device.

With these ends in view my invention consists in a follower adapted in length to fit transversely into a drawer, and two pivotal spring-actuated catches connected with the outer face of the said follower, and each having a gripping and an operating finger, and respectively arranged so that their gripping fingers will normally project slightly beyond the ends of the follower.

My invention further consists in certain details of construction and combinations of parts as will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In carrying out my invention, I construct a follower A, from a thin board, adapting it in length to fit transversely into the drawer A, in which it is to be used, and preferably proportioned in width to the depth of the same. Upon the outer face of this follower I secure a wooden cleat, B, which is arranged parallel with its edges, and just above its center. As herein shown the cleat is secured to the follower by means of screws 13 B. To the respective ends of the cleat I attach the two catches by means of which the follower is secured in any desired position within the drawer, each of the said catches comprising a gripping-finger C, having the inner face of its outer end beveled, and an operating finger C,

the said gripping fingers normally extending in the plane of the follower, and projecting slightly beyond the ends thereof, and the said operating fingers normally extending outward at about a right angle to the follower, and thus in convenient position to be grasped by the fingers for shifting the position of the follower. The said catches are pivotally mounted between the parallel horizontal lugsD D of plates D, secured to the ends of the oleat B. A spring E, located between the said lugs of each plate, so as to engage with the operating fingers C of the catches, exerts a constant effort to turn the catches inward.

WVhen the device above described is placed in a drawer with its cleat and the attachments thereof toward the outer end of the same, and moved inward, the projecting beveled ends of the gripping fingers of the catches will ongage with the sides of the drawer, and be thrown back far enough to permit the follower to be moved inward. Now if the inner face of the follower is pressed against files or other papers also located transversely in the drawer, with sufficient force to press them somewhat, they will, when pressure is removed from the outer face of the follower, recover and exert some pressure upon the inner face thereof, pushing it outward, but the ends of the said gripping fingers being at this time engaged with the sides of the drawer, will not move outward with the follower under this pressure, but will cling to the sides of the drawer into which they will be forced, so as to get a strong hold by a slight outward movement of the follower under the pressure of the papers. To readjust the follower, it is only necessary to draw the operating fingers of the respect ive catches toward each other, whereby the projecting ends of the operating fingers will be withdrawn from their engagement with the sides of the drawer, and moved sufficiently so that their ends will not interfere with the free movement of the follower. The cleatfurnishes a convenient handle for the follower during these operations.

Preferably I provide each end of the follower with a notch F to receive guides G G, as shown by Fig. 1 of the drawings, arranged longitudinally in the drawer, and projecting a little from thesides thereof. These guides assist in keeping the follower in position, and prevent it from rising.

If desired, as in the case of a wide drawer, the ends of the operating fingers C may be connected by a wire H, or equivalent device so that both catches may be simultaneously operated.

It is apparent that some changes and alterations might be made in the details of construction of my device, and I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction and arrangement shown, but hold myself at liberty to make such alterations therein as fairly fall within I versely into a drawer,.and-two pivotal springactuatedcatches connected with the outer face of the said follower, each having a. gripping and an operating finger, and respectively arranged so that their gripping fingers will normally project sufficiently beyond the ends of the follower, to frictionally engage with the imperforate sides of a drawer, the ends of the r finger having the inner face of its outer end beveled and normally extending sufficiently beyond the adjacent edge of the follower, to frictionally engage with the imperforate sides of a drawer, their ends being adapted thereto and an outwardly projecting operating finger substantially as described.

3. A follower adapted in length to fit transverselyinto a drawer, and two pivotal springactuated catches connectedwiththe outer face of the said follow.er, eachhaving a gripping and an operatingfinger, and respectively. ar-' ranged so-t-hat their grippingfingers willnormally project sufficiently beyond the ends of the follower to frictionally engagethe imperforate sides of a. drawer, their ends being adapted thereto, and connection betweenthe ends of the said operating fingers, whereby they will be operated simultaneously, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specificationin the presence of two subsorib ing witnesses,

DAVID A. ALDEN. Witnesses:

R. S. SHEPARD, F. H. BRIGHAM. 

